Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids: An Angel Fell

The Cecil Taylor-mentored saxophonist's cult Chicago sextet return, whipping up a fresh heady brew of cosmic jazz, Afro-beat, exotica, dub...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2018

Jim Snidero & Jeremy Pelt: Jubilation! Celebrating Cannonball Adderley

Jim Snidero | Billy Drummond | David Hazeltine | Jeremy Pelt | Nat Reeves

Jeremy Pelt must surely know the whole Adderley brothers' band book by heart – he's already a member of the...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: July/2018

Gary Smulyan: Alternative Contrafacts

As the title references, the veteran baritone saxophonist's trio has an engaging way of uncovering previously forgotten contrafacts (the practice...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2018

Rainer Pflunt: Triangulations: Unit 9

Dagmar Kohl | Szigmund Biedermayer | Rainer Pflunt | Gretchen Farber

Uncompromising – check. Dedicated – check. Relentless – maybe. Ignorable – never. Rainer Pflunt studied briefl y with Karlheinz Stockhausen...

Reviewed by J. J. Geiger in issue: July/2018

John Coltrane Quartet: Both Directions At Once – The Lost Album

Jimmy Garrison | John Coltrane | McCoy Tyner | Elvin Jones

Universal have been remarkably coy about The Lost Album with security surrounding its release the equal of that protecting the...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: July/2018

Draw By Four: Framework

Will Bartlett | Sam Dunn | Chris Draper | Jon Shenoy

This debut album from reeds player Jon Shenoy (whose credits include Ivo Neame's large ensemble) and his group, Draw By...

Reviewed by Thomas Rees in issue: July/2018

Niebiesko Czarni: Rock Opera Naga I & II

Wojciech Korda | Ada Rusowicz | Zbigniew Podgajny | Zbigniew Namysłowski | Wiesław Żakowicz | Stan Borys | Janusz Popławski | Andrzej Nebeski | Andrzej Pawlik | Marek Ślazyk

Niebiesko Czarni (translating as Black and Blue) were a Polish vocal troupe, founded in 1962, who were in action for...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: July/2018

Willberg/Andreae/Birchall: Live in Beppu

Sam Andreae | Otto Willberg | David Birchall

The fact that all three musicians credit themselves as playing ‘bits’ is highly relevant. Although primarily a saxophonist, a guitarist...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: July/2018

Karen Lane: Passarim

Andrea Trillo | Karen Lane | Rob Luft | Steve Watts | Graham Harvey | Gareth Lockrane

There's saudade, subtlety and feeling aplenty in this fine sixth album from the London-based Australian vocalist Karen Lane. The judiciously...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: July/2018

Henri Texier: Sand Woman

Vincent Le Quang | Gautier Garrigue | Sebastien Texier | Manu Codjia | Henri Texier

The iconic French double-bassist Henri Texier has never been one for looking back, but on the new recording Sand Woman...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2018